Kansas

If I'm the only fan of these guys here then I'm in the Twilight Zone. What are people's thoughts on one of the biggest prog rock bands ever. Even though with the amount of early music I have from these guys would indicate me as being a casual fan (Best Of and the 2CD box set), I love them enough to be a big Kansas fan (and plan on getting some of their classic albums, I already have Point Of No Return), though not as much of the Elefante stuff as the classic stuff.

I also have Always Never The Same with the London Symphony Orchestra and it combines beautifully with the classic Kansas songs (and a cover of the Beatles Elenor Rigby). The only thing that might turn off some people is that Steve Walsh's voice has lost a lot of it's luster (a bit on the rough side), although he makes up for it with the passion in his voice IMO and Robby Steinhardt's voice is tip top.

Also I have Somewhere To Elsewhere which was a reunion album of the origional line up with all new songs written by Kerry Livgren. In that one Walsh's voice improved greatly over Always Never The Same and the music is superb (except for one or two songs, it is some of the best Kansas songs since the 70s, but I wouldn't expect anything less from Livgren).

I'm a casual fan. I picked up a Greatest Hits album and that's enough for me. I'm not real into prog rock though. I love prog metal, but just can't seem to get into much progrock.

I do however like Kansas much more than most of the prog rock acts from the 70s.

I'm with blackieboy, I picked up the Greatest Hits and that really is enough. Although, I don't like Greatest Hits albums, I'll make an exception for this band. I love progressive music.

I like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust In The Wind". Other than that...eh.

I like what I've heard, but own nothing. I've been meaning to remedy that. I can get the following sent to me right now:

Always Never The Same (Compendia)
In The Spirit Of Things
Live: Dust In The Wind
Point Of No Return
Power

Which one should I go for?

Eyesore wrote:

I like what I've heard, but own nothing. I've been meaning to remedy that. I can get the following sent to me right now:

Always Never The Same (Compendia)
In The Spirit Of Things
Live: Dust In The Wind
Point Of No Return
Power

Which one should I go for?

Point of Know Return, definitely, although the live album and Always Never the Same are both excellent as well. Power is probably their weakest album, to me. I have not heard In The Spirit of Things.

Vinyl Confession was one of the first albums I ever had. It is a really good one, but the classic seventies period is better. Leftoverture is probably my favorite.

I love Kansas! Highly underrated band IMO. I only have a few of their discs, but the ones that I have and the other ones that I have heard are Awesome! I have the first Kansas disc along with Best Of and Two For the Show, which is a great live album. If you like prog. rock, then Kansas is totally worth checking out.

I have Two For The Show as well. Great live album.

I'm kinda the opposite. I like them a lot, but I'm really sick of all the radio hits after 30 years, don't wanna hear 'em no more. My favorite, by far, is the Masque album. Great, fairly heavy album, without being beat to death too bad by classic rock radio. I feel just the same about Styx too.

SAHB Healer wrote:

I'm kinda the opposite. I like them a lot, but I'm really sick of all the radio hits after 30 years, don't wanna hear 'em no more. My favorite, by far, is the Masque album. Great, fairly heavy album, without being beat to death too bad by classic rock radio. I feel just the same about Styx too.

Get Somewhere To Elesewhere, it is an awesome album and every song is new (all written by Kerry Livgren and performed by the origional band in 2000).

I like Kansas.I've got Leftoverture which is great album

DallasBlack wrote:

Get Somewhere To Elesewhere, it is an awesome album and every song is new (all written by Kerry Livgren and performed by the origional band in 2000).

Somewhere To Elsewhere is amazing. Their best album in a looooooooooong time.

Tall Tyrion wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Get Somewhere To Elesewhere, it is an awesome album and every song is new (all written by Kerry Livgren and performed by the origional band in 2000).

Somewhere To Elsewhere is amazing. Their best album in a looooooooooong time.

Sounds like Somewhere to Elsewhere and Steve Walsh "Shadowman" might be a nice combo to buy together.

Hey, I can highly recommend Shadown Man and Glossolalia by Steve Walsh. Great albums. Actually, Shadowman is the album that made me decide to—at some point—check out Kansas beyond their two or three big hits.

Androcles wrote:

I like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust In The Wind". Other than that...eh.

I love those two songs. Too bad their other stuff isn't as good though.

Love em, I have all of their stuff up to Best Of, and a bunch of live stuff too. I also have STE.

Their early material is absolutely the best, Kerry Livgren is fantastic. This was one band IMO that progressed the prog rock movement further. Steve Walsh is exceptional as well!

Both Livgren's & Walsh's solo prject are as equally as good especially "Seeds Of Change" from Livgren!

Wargod48

Wargod48 wrote:

Both Livgren's & Walsh's solo prject are as equally as good especially "Seeds Of Change" from Livgren!

YEAH, BABY!!!

Can't beat that Dio song "Live For The King"

I liked Kansas, I had a few tapes of them back in the day. Good hard rock!

One of the best prog bands ever

I LOVE Kansas! I have all of their studio releases. Leftoverture is absolutely one of the finest albums to come out of the 70's. There are things that I love about each one of their albums. Take a listen to their most recent album(2001) called Somewhere to Elsewhere. It sounds great and has a lot of great elements.

First 5 albums are essential...beyond that it's a little bit hit and miss but with great material still to be had. They managed to have 2 of the BEST lead vocalists ever over the years...Steve Walsh and John Elefante...

My favorite is Audio-Visions. "Relentless" is a great song!

I love "Hold On" from that album...

I like 'em. Good prog band.